H.Res. 491 (109th): Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives with ... (On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Agree)

Number:
House Vote #523 [primary source: house.gov]
Date:
Oct 17, 2005 (109th Congress)
Result:
Passed
Bill:
H.Res. 491 (109th): Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives with respect to raising awareness and enhancing the state of computer security in the United States, and supporting the goals and ideals of National Cyber Security Awareness Month.
Introduced by Rep. Sherwood “Sherry” Boehlert [R-NY24, 2003-2006] on October 17, 2005
Current Status: Agreed To (Simple Resolution)

This was a vote to pass a bill or agree to a resolution. It was taken under a procedure called “suspension of the rules” which is typically used to pass non-controversial bills. Votes under suspension require a 2/3rds majority. A failed vote under suspension can be taken again.

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Totals     Republican     Democrat     Independent
  Yea 354
 
 
 
82%
192 162 0
  Nay 13
 
 
 
3%
13 0 0
Not Voting 66
 
 
 
15%
25 40 1
Required: 2/3

Vote Details

Notes

Where is the Speaker’s vote?

According to current House rules, the Speaker of the House is not required to vote in “ordinary legislative proceedings, except when such vote would be decisive.” In practice, this means the Speaker of the House rarely votes and only does so when it is politically useful. When the Speaker declines to vote, he or she is simply omitted from the roll call by the House Clerk.

What’s the difference between aye and yea?

There is no meaningful difference between aye and yea (and nay and no), but the terms are used in different sorts of votes based on Congress’s long tradition of parliamentary procedure. The House and Senate follow the U.S. Constitution strictly when it says that bills should be decided on by the “yeas and nays” (Article I, Section 7). The House sometimes operates under a special set of rules called the “Committee of the Whole on the State of the Union” (or “Committee of the Whole” for short), which is a sort of pseudo-committee that is made up of every congressman. During this mode of operation, the House uses the terms “aye” and “no” instead. (See the Rules of the House, Rule XX, and House Practice in the section Voting.)